Biofuels and What They Are

You have heard the term biofuel but aren’t sure what it means. Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass-recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, such as manure from cows. It is considered ‘green’ because it comes from a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels.

Agricultural products specifically grown for use as biofuels include corn and soybeans (primarily in the United States) as well as flaxseed and rapeseed (primarily in Europe).

Waste from industry, agriculture, forestry and households can also be used to produce bioenergy and include straw, lumber, manure, sewage, garbage and food leftovers.

The production of biofuels to replace oil and natural gas is in active development, focusing on the use of cheap organic matter (usually cellulose, agricultural and sewage waste) in the efficient production of liquid and gas biofuels that yield high net energy gain.

There are various current issues with biofuel production and use, which are presently being discussed in the popular media and scientific journals. These include: the "food vs fuel" debate, carbon emissions levels, sustainable biofuel production, deforestation and soil erosion, impact on water resources, human rights issues, poverty reduction potential, biofuel prices, energy balance and efficiency, and centralised versus decentralised production models.

What material can be used to make biofuels? Conventional ethanol is made from sugar cane, corn, and sweet sorghum. Soybean and rapeseed oil are often used to make biodiesel, but coconut, palm, canola and jatropha nut oil are also being used throughout the world.

Trees, grass, agricultural residue, and municipal solid waste can also be converted into biofuels. Cellulose makes up the majority of a plant’s structure and can be broken down into sugars, which can then be fermented and made into ethanol. Recent research is making this process less expensive and more energy efficient.

As the world’s top producer, Brazil uses sugar cane to make ethanol. Many other developing countries, such as those of southern Africa, produce large amounts of sugar and also have potential to become ethanol producers. The Midwestern United States relies on corn to produce nearly one-quarter of the globe’s ethanol, and China is quickly emerging as the third largest ethanol supplier.

Other countries with limited fossil fuel resources are examining the prospect of producing domestic fuel supplies. Thailand has an aggressive policy to make use of tapioca and sugar cane for ethanol production. In response to the recent passage of the EU Biofuels Directive, member countries are ramping up biodiesel production. The Philippines recently mandated incorporation of coconut oil biodiesel into diesel fuel, the first time coconut oil has been used as a motor fuel.

Cars, trucks, and farm machinery can all run on low-volume biofuel blends without any alteration. Current car warranties cover operation with ethanol-blended gas of up to ten percent. Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) operate on any combination of ethanol and gasoline. FFVs are being sold in the U.S., Brazil, and China. As ethanol has a higher octane, it is used as a gasoline additive to improve vehicle performance. In fact, many international racing teams use ethanol because of its high performance qualities. Biodiesel blends of 20% show similar operation in conventional diesel engines as regular diesel fuel.

Are biofuels the answer for today’s energy crisis? It may be too soon to tell but it certainly has been an alternative source in the meantime.

About the Author: Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com>

Car Theft and Trying To Prevent It

If you haven’t had your car stolen, you have been lucky so far. Auto theft is an estimated $7.5 billion business, according to the FBI. An auto theft occurred every 23 seconds in the United States with nearly 1.4 million vehicles stolen. Auto theft frequency varied according to region, with the Southern States losing 35%, the Western States 28%, the Midwestern States 20%, and the Northeastern States with a 17% auto theft rate. Vehicle thefts rates do not vary drastically from month-to-month, however, January and July seem to have slightly higher crime rates. The lowest percentage of auto thefts occurs in February and April, probably because of fewer days in the month.

Auto theft is largely a big-city crime. Obviously, population density makes a difference in the auto theft rate, but the urban reality is that more cars are parked on the street or in open parking lots than in secured personal garages. The sheer amount of cars in urban areas makes it very difficult for the police to identify a recently stolen car from among the thousands of similar looking vehicles in traffic. The police will admit to getting lucky sometimes by recovering a recently stolen car because of a tail-light being out or when the car thief commits a minor traffic violation like speeding or failing to stop at a stop sign.

An experienced car thief can steal your car in less than a minute. Many crude thieves simply smash the drivers’ window. Most cars are seemingly stolen for the value of their parts. According to insurance companies, a $20,000 stolen vehicle can be stripped and sold into $30,000 worth of parts inventory to unscrupulous scrap and auto-body shops. Stolen cars, vans, trucks, and motorcycles cause economic hardship for victims and increase everyone's insurance premiums.

Here are some free things you can do to help prevent car theft:

* Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them.
* Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
* Never hide a second set of keys in your car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look.
* Park in well-lighted areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
* Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
* If you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key. If your trunk and glovebox use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glovebox and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
* Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
* Completely close car windows when parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
* Don't leave valuables in plain view.. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
* Park with your wheels turned toward the curb.. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots.
* If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. Rear wheels lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first.
* Always use your emergency brake when parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow.
* If you have a garage, use it.. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.
* When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve.
* Don't leave the registration or title in your car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
* Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.
* Replace T-Shaped door locks with straight locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this.
* Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
* Engrave expensive accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the used cars for sale in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Keeping Your Teenage Driver Safe

Your child has just become a teenager and is already behind the wheel. This can be the most frightening part of a parent’s life. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, car crashes take more young lives than all other causes--and in larger proportion than for any other driving age group. And most of the fatal crashes and serious injuries come in the very earliest months of unsupervised driving. But you can help keep these statistics from affecting your child by simply offering them some basic driving rules.


1. Help your teens develop the right habits especially during the first six months of solo driving. Let them know right away these are the rules:

• Use of safety belts is mandatory.

• Teen passengers won't be allowed initially.

• Night driving will be limited.

• Don’t drive when you are drowsy.

• Distractions (e.g., text messaging) are prohibited.

• Speeding must be expressly prohibited. Since most new drivers don't have the experience to handle vehicles at high speeds, it's the source of many deaths and injuries.

• There will be no alcohol or drug use.

2. Set a good driving example in the way you drive:

• Wear your safety belt always.

• Don't speed.

• Practice defensive driving.

• Don't use your cell phone.

• Don't run red lights.

3. Develop a parent/teen driving contract. An example is available from the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org/issues/teendriving/ agreement.pdf. Many states also have sample agreements.

4. Plan to provide your teen with extra practice time in a variety of weather conditions so he or she can gain experience and confidence. If you live in a climate where the winters are challenging, make sure your teens vehicle is up to par. Here are some things you can do:

• Winter weather puts your vehicle's mechanical systems and performance to the ultimate test, and demands that your vehicle is in excellent condition. Make sure that your tires and all mechanical systems, including your brakes, are in top working order.

• Take your new driver to a vacant, snow or ice covered parking lot where you can safely practice slow-speed maneuvers.

• A novice driver's first on-the-road experience with winter-weather driving should not be during a major blizzard. Ensure he/she waits until conditions are less severe.

• If possible, have your teenager practice driving on slippery roads in daylight only. Exposure to slippery roads at night should be limited until beginners have gained more experience driving in various types of winter weather.

• Maintain a safe driving distance from the vehicle in front of you.

• Make sure the speed limit is observed and respected.

• Transform the trunk of your vehicle into a winter survival kit by filling it with essential emergency equipment including a flashlight, blankets, jumper cables, sand and a small shovel or ice scraper.

5. Reinforce state graduated licensing programs so teens must have a longer period of supervised driving and more restrictions in the early months.
This is a just a short list, but with your reinforcement, a little time spent with your teen driver might protect your child’s life and at the very least keep their insurance rates from going through the roof.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the used cars for sale in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Preparing Your Car For Summer

Summer is nearly upon us. Just as we as humans need to adjust our wardrobes for summer, so it is that our car needs to have some minor adjustments. Depending on where you live, whether it is extremely warm climates such as Texas or moderate, will determine how much change your car needs. Here are some tips to start with:

1. Hoses and Belts should be inspected. Today, many cars are equipped with a serpentine belt that runs all of the accessories; so if that belt breaks, you can lose your power steering, water pump and charging system immediately. A good shop will check for any visible damage, abnormal wear or small hairline cracks. You should replace any belt that shows signs of wear. Even if a belt appears to be in good condition, it should be replaced every 50,000 miles as preventative maintenance. Like belts, radiator & heater hoses are also made of rubber. Having all hoses inspected periodically for wear, including hairline cracks and soft, bulging spots, might prevent an impending rupture from occurring.
2. Check your air conditioning system. One should have their A/C System checked before it gets hot! Because of the high usage during the hot summer months, this is the time it will be likely to fail. So, if you haven’t had it checked yet, do so now! An a/c service will test your vehicle’s system pressures, clean the condenser, visually and electronically inspect hoses, fittings and seals for leaks, check cooling fan operation, check output temperature, and adjust belt if needed. Freon will be added if needed.
3. Check your tires. An under-inflated tire not only reduces the life of your tire, but can cause your car’s gas mileage to plummet by as much as 15%! An inspection will also tell you how much tread life you have on your tire, as well as alert you to any uneven tire wear, which could indicate an alignment problem. An inspection can also alert you to any visible damage to your tires, which can worsen under intense heat.
4. Wiper blades and windshield wiper fluid should be checked. Any rubber on your vehicle can become brittle and crack, especially if you live in a very warm climate. Replace those worn out & cracked wiper blades before you need them. Make sure that the washer fluid is checked and replenished also.
5. Oil Checks are of course necessary. While this very well may be the least costly of all the routine maintenance services on your vehicle, its’ importance is critical. Most manufacturers require the oil to be changed every 3,000-5,000 miles. Because of the harsh desert heat conditions in Texas, we recommend every 3,000. Most good shops will perform a free bumper-to-bumper safety inspection on your vehicle while doing the Lube, Oil, & Filter Service. A safety inspection can consist of everything from checking your fluid levels, conditions of your belts & hoses, brakes, tires, battery & cables, shocks, wiper a washer operations, light operations, air cleaner, water pump, radiator, etc., etc.
6. Battery - Batteries can fail any time of year. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. Routine care: Scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all surfaces; re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check the fluid level monthly. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.
7. Prepare for Emergencies. Breaking down in the heat can be lethal. Carry some basic tools and if you live in a warm climate keep water with you. Also consider buying a first aid kit, flares, and flashlight.

A little prevention will carry you a long way through the summer months making your travels safe and enjoyable.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.